Door aperture Measurements

Post any technical questions or queries here.
Post Reply
mini_surfari
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 773
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:26 am
Location: South West
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Door aperture Measurements

Post by mini_surfari »

Does any one have any measurements of the door aperture? Ideally from a known good car.

My van has been in a shunt at some point in its life, and I am having an absolute nightmare trying to get the doors to fit. Starting to think the whole things out of whack :cry:.

I have been given some pointers, just would like a few measurements to have as references.

Cheers!
User avatar
woodypup59
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1571
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:28 pm
Location: London UK
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 22 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by woodypup59 »

CORRECTION

On a '61 with original doors (but new A panels) the aperture is 925 to 928 mm at the door hinge levels.

Specsavers are closed a t m.
Last edited by woodypup59 on Sun Mar 29, 2020 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
trevorhp
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 929
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:38 pm
Location: Taunton Somerset UK Formerly Kingswinford
Has thanked: 16 times
Been thanked: 9 times
Contact:

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by trevorhp »

Don't have a van but:
3 cars all std 1967 to 1968
Hinge level
36 3/8" to 36 5/8"
925mm to 931mm
No two measurements were the same ....top to bottom or side to side on any of the cars
No surprises there then :lol:
"Ambition: the first step on the road to disappointment" Homer. J. Simpson
"Disappointment: the first step on the road to enlightenment" Buddha
"Enlightenment: the first step on the road to ambition" Dalai Lama

No point in hoping to go to Heaven...... I won't know anyone there.
KDK 320F
HDK 443E
DJJ 226H
TFD 47G
PKV 375
I x 1967 originally Red since 1968 Blue,Ex-Race Cooper S Bodyshell only have Commission plate as ID.
1 x chassis 007 1967 Cox GTM
mini_surfari
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 773
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:26 am
Location: South West
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by mini_surfari »

Cheers guys, I shall check what I've got tomorrow!

You don't happen to have the width at the bottom of the A post? As it touches there also.
User avatar
woodypup59
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1571
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:28 pm
Location: London UK
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 22 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by woodypup59 »

I had measured upper and lower widths on both sides at the level of the hinges.

The passenger side is a nice fit with the aperture 925 mm wide at both levels.

Obviously below this lower hinge everything is curved making measurements difficult.

If the car has had a new door step fitted, that could be slightly too high making the door snag. The shape and fit of older repair panels was notoriously bad.
mini_surfari
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 773
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:26 am
Location: South West
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by mini_surfari »

Sorry I was referring to the windscreen A pillar above the swage line. I wasnt very clear there, the window frame of the door catches.
User avatar
woodypup59
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 1571
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:28 pm
Location: London UK
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 22 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by woodypup59 »

Ah yes this area often suffers in a front ender.

Once the A panel is tacked on to give decent door gaps and keeping the lower rear door corner flush with the B post, if necessary, we porta-power the screen pillar to get the gap round the window frame right.

A panels often need some dressing to get the curve right round the door.

300mm down from the top of the aperture, its 823mm wide.

Is your door sound ? If the braze joint holding either end of the window frame has cracked, or been poorly repaired, the window frame could really be anywhere.
mini_surfari
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 773
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:26 am
Location: South West
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by mini_surfari »

Ah that sounds reassuring that I’ve got some play there if I need it.

Does moving the pillar with a porta-power slightly not affect the windscreen fit?

I’m fairly confident with the door as it was pretty solid, and only required a reskin
User avatar
Andrew1967
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 7927
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:35 pm
Location: Usually in my garage on the east coast of Norfolk, UK
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by Andrew1967 »

From experience, doors always require manipulation to get a good fit.

Sometimes the window frames need a bit of a whack with a hammer and block of wood to get the gaps right. It has been known to have to cut through the window frame and lower slightly if the gap is too tight.

An example of how doors can differ ... I have two perfect and original passenger doors. I fitted one to HOY and the gaps were not brilliant and would have needed quite a bit of alteration. The second door fitted almost perfectly straight away !!
mini_surfari
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 773
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:26 am
Location: South West
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by mini_surfari »

Thanks for your advice.

I’m heading out to measure up now and will report back.
mini_surfari
1275 Cooper S
Posts: 773
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:26 am
Location: South West
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Door aperture Measurements

Post by mini_surfari »

Do any of you have any tips on how to get some space here?

Ive got 4mm gap between the a panel and lower door, reasonable gap at the top of the window frame. The rear of the door is tight as it has been in a shunt as I said, so that will be slit and dress back. However this corner has stumped me slightly?

Image
Post Reply